A livid Steelers supporter filmed himself burning an autographed Minkah Fitzpatrick jersey to protest Pittsburgh’s signing of Aaron Rodgers. In a now-viral video, he ranted: “I’ll never be a Steelers fan again… Yinz pick up Aaron Rodgers-you keep killing us!” before igniting the memorabilia. The clip, shared by @SteelCityReece, spread rapidly across social media, symbolizing fierce division within the fanbase.
The fan specifically cited the releases of George Pickens and Justin Fields-calling Fields a “potential” star-as catalysts for his meltdown. “You let go of them for this? It’s sad… today is my last day being a Steelers fan,” he declared, blaming ownership (Rooney family) and coach Mike Tomlin for “killing” the team’s future.
The choice to burn Fitzpatrick’s gear baffled observers. The All-Pro safety remains a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense and wasn’t involved in Rodgers’ signing. Critics called it a misdirected overreaction, noting Rodgers’ deal is a low-risk, one-year contract worth $12M-not a franchise-altering move.
Steelers veteran Cam Heyward swiftly condemned the stunt on X: “First off, why Minkah’s jersey? That’s bonkers. Second, why burn it when people need clothes? Third, you’ll regret it!” His response drew widespread support, highlighting the protest’s wastefulness and disrespect toward a teammate.
Rodgers, 41, joins Pittsburgh after a tumultuous Jets tenure derailed by injury. While some fans welcome his experience for a playoff push, others fear his presence stifles young QB Kenny Pickett. The signing follows Pittsburgh’s release of Fields-who signed with Dallas-and trade of disgruntled WR Pickens to New England.
This isn’t the first jersey-burning spectacle in sports (LeBron’s 2010 exit, Watson’s Browns deal), but Heyward’s rebuttal underscores its futility. As one fan tweeted: “Burning a $300 signed jersey hurts you-not the Steelers.” Most analysts expect the outrage to fade once preseason begins.
Despite fan fractures, Pittsburgh’s locker room is rallying. Fitzpatrick ignored the incident, while Heyward’s defense reinforced team cohesion. As Rodgers prepares for training camp, the focus shifts to on-field results-where wins could quickly extinguish the backlash.
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